Living with a children's author isn't as easy as it looks!

8. List – Mom is making a list of the things she will submit this month. She is determined to get 10 stories on the list, and then she will decide where to send them. So far the list has NINE titles! Day by day – story by story – a little at a time – almost there.

17. WetFeet – I don’t like getting my feet wet. When Mom takes me out to check my pee-mail she says the word, “Why am I standing in the wet grass and you are not?” and “I am NOT the one out here to go potty.”

and “Get off the balance beam, Marylou.”

Eventually, I inch into the wet grass, little by little, and take care of business. I’m not happy about it.

26. Walking – Getting from the garage to the house can be slow-going. I stop to sniff. I smell the flowers.

I check the bricks. I hit the pavement.

I stare at the air. Eventually, we arrive. Mom says the word, “Why do I take you anywhere?”

84. One – Last week, Mom got her first ever #1 from Rate Your Story. On a scale of 1-10, #1 is the best! Mom has received the occasional #2 rating, but usually, her work is a #4. We’re excited that she clawed her way to a #1 – little by little.

5. Begging – Every day, I work on Mom… From here…

And here…

And even here…

Can you tell I am begging for ice cream? I think it’s pretty clear. She mixed up a batch of my special yogurt/peanut butter/applesauce/MilkBone frozen treats. And apparently, I can only eat one a day. GAH!

They’re so yummy, it’s tough to eat them a little at a time. I lick and lick…

…and lick.

And then I lose my mind and gobble the whole thing down. The ice cream headache is worth it!

I does sniff everything when I is out and Monty does complain that I is slow on the walks. But I can all eats faster than him! Your mum has done so well with her story getting a #1. Maybe she deserves to share your ice cream?
Love Chicken 🐾

MOL MOL…frozen brains too, huh… Why am I not surpurrized that your mommy is a number 1 Story teller. We think all of her stories must get an A++, Cupcake, even if we only know your stories. We love the way you are standing right inside…I mean, next to her to encourage her fantasy, oh, and I almost forgot your balance..are you sure you are a doggie 😉 Pawkisses for a wonderful day and lots of icecream 🙂 ❤

Good for you Mom getting a #1! That’s fabulous – I’m sure you inspired her when she wrote that story so she got a #1 – right??? As for getting wet feets on a walk – I don’t blame you for trying to avoid stepping on that grass but you HAVE to in order to do your business right? A little wet feet time leads to a lot of RELIEF (if you know what I mean!). Your begging technique is purrrfect – and your treats sound and look delicious! Have I told you lately that you’re adorable? Well you are!

Thanks, S. Adorable is always a goal for me. Actually the story Mom earned a #1 for WAS a dog story. The dog’s name was Freckles, but he was a lot like me! Eventually, I do have to step into the grass – wet, snowy, whatever. I do it, but I don’t like it!

Number 1!!!! Congratulations, mom must be so chuffed to bits. Charley does not like to get her paws wet or roll in mud and other nasty stuff! She used to have two friends who did on many shared walk…she would not even walk next to them and looked at them as if their names were Stinky and Smelly! Wishing you many ice creams, Cupcakes! xoxoxoxo

Thanks, J. Mom is “chuffed to bits” about her score – for sure. We didn’t think of it that way, but I like the sound of it! I am with Charley on the wet feet, but I do occasionally try to roll in gross things. I say “try” because Mom usually catches me before I get too far. Leashes… Ugh.

Hahahaha! Oh Cupcake, you crack me up! [“Get off the balance beam, Marylou.”]
Big time kudos to your mama for getting a #1. Way to go, mom! Sam is praying she fur-gets and miscounts the icy treats and you score a second (or third) treat soon. Especially when you’re on the balance beam because it’s extra hot outside. ღ

Hooray for mom being #1. We’re not surprised though cuz she works really hard and that pays off ( at least that’s what mom tells me).. I love Popsicles and yogurt with blueberries in it. Your treat sounds brain freeze yummy. Lady Caroline

Thanks, L. Mom has different rules for herself. She thinks it’s bad luck to eat an odd number of desserts. If she eats one, she has to eat two. And if she eats 3, she has to eat FOUR! She watches MY weight, not her weight!

Congratulations on the #1 rating. Hope you reach t0 titles. Cupcake, love the treats your Mom makes you. Isn’t there a lot of sugar? Don’t know if I’d have the patience. You have a great Mom. Archie doesn’t like to get his feet wet in the grass either – but he has no choice.

Two words…Drama Queen! Seriously, can you Mom share the recipe for those treats…,gawd knows about all we have in our Frige is yoghurt….sigh. And, Mama says you have such a beautiful face! Xxxxx Your pal Skyler

Awww. Thanks, S. Once when I was doing therapy work at the VA, a patient told me my face looked like it was painted by an artist! Imagine? The ice cream treats are really simple. I am tiny, so Mom mixes up a small cup of plain yogurt, about a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter, and some fruit – applesauce, smashed banana, whatever. She stirs it up and puts it into ice cube trays. She adds a tiny mini-Milkbone to each one for a handle. If your mom wants them a little bigger, she can double the recipe and use 2 oz. bathroom cups instead of an ice cube tray and a regular sized Milkbone for the handle.

Thanks, Pix. I am SURE that Mom is constantly inspired by our walks. …even though when I hit the deck for a street nap she says the word, “Aaarrgh.” and “Ugh.” and calls me the word “Freak.” That means we’re having fun.

hello cupcake its dennis the vizsla dog hay kongratchoolayshuns to yore mama on her number wun!!! it is gud to be number wun!!! hay i do not blaym yoo on the ice kreem no wun kan reezist that stuf!!! ok bye

You are such a cutie, you deserve yummy treats. We want to thank you for letting us win Savannah’s giveaway, she told us you had won and said the runner-up could have it. We are very happy kitties!!!! Thank you.

Ha! That would be naughty, KI. If your mom is anything like my mom, she will not take that very well. She thinks her body is perfect. No improvements needed. That’s why she has so much interest in my tiny body!